Order for the Celebration and Worship of GodSeptember 22, 2002 Prelude and silent preparationCall to worshipPsalm 79Confession of sinUnison: O Lord our God, we come to You as Your sons and servants, grateful for the redemption that is ours in Jesus Christ, and yet aware of our continuing need of Your grace. We confess that we have sinned against You. We have broken Your commandments. We have fallen short of Your glory. We have not loved You with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We were born in sin and have continued to sin. We acknowledge our guilt. We rightly fall under Your curse and judgment. Blot out our transgressions, wash us from our iniquities, deliver us from bloodguiltiness. Forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, in Jesus name. Amen. Declaration of absolution“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:8,10-12). Hymn of gratitude and praiseHymn 475: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven Confession of faith—Heidelberg Catechism Q1Minister: What is your only comfort, in life and in death? People: That I belong - body and soul, in life and in death - not to myself but to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that He protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; Indeed, that everything must fit His purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. Unison: Thanks be to God. Prayers of the people(the congregation is invited to kneel)The Lord says: I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. Honour your father and your mother. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall not kill. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall not commit adultery. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall not steal. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall not covet. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart and soul, mind and strength. Lord, have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this Your law. Scripture readingPrayer for illuminationSermon—Rev. Laurence WindhamOfferingPrayerDoxologyPraise God from whom all blessings flow. Celebration of the Lord's SupperMinister: The Lord be with you! Minister: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Everlasting God; because You sent Your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in Him of everlasting life; that when He shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold His appearing. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we praise and magnify your glorious Name, evermore praising you and singing, The SanctusHo-ly, Ho-ly, Ho-ly Lord, God of pow’r and might, Prayer of consecrationWords of insitutionMinister: Therefore we proclaim the faith:Unison: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Prayer of approachUnison: We do not presume to come to this Your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Your table. But You are the same Lord, who always shows mercy; grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink of His blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His body, and our souls washed through His most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. Amen.Agnus DeiMinister: Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. (The people come forward to receive the sacrament.) Communion hymns(The congregation is invited to sing as the sacrament is observed.) Hymn 383: O, Sacred Head Now Wounded (a capella) Prayer of commitmentUnison: Almighty and everliving God, we thank You for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of Your Son, and heirs of Your eternal kingdom. And O, Lord, grant us this other benefit: that You will never allow us to forget these things; but having them imprinted on our hearts, may we grow and increase daily in the faith which is at work in every good deed. And now, Father, send us out to do the work You have given us to do, to love and serve You as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To Him, to You, and to the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and forever. Amen. Closing hymnHymn 594: God Is Working His Purpose Out BenedictionShalom, chaverim!, Shalom chaverot! Shalom, shalom! Farewell, good friends, farewell, good friends, Shalom, shalom! Minister: Go in peace to love and serve the risen and reigning Lord Jesus Christ. Postlude |